Question
Hi, Mr. McCann

I saw a bougainnvillea hanging basket. It was really beautiful, long and flowing vines and blossoms. I asked at Lowes garden center how to do it and was told to get a one gallon plant, but that she did not know how to start it.  So that is my question. How do I get it started and continue to have it in hanging basket?I have the one gallon plant and the stem is quite stiff.

Help!!!   
p.s. I am an Allexpert advisor for horse training, but know little about flowers)
Dorothy

Answer
Hi fellow expert lol!...ok, I have to say that I have never done one or even seen one for that matter, but knowing how the Boug grows, I would suggest starting it in a three gallon container and elevating the container so as it grows it will naturally be pulled down by gravity; train it as it does,,by pruning any that attempt to go lateral and once you have it established, transplant into your hanging container. Bougs are aggressive growers, so this should be pretty easy, however, the other side of the coin is that it will need to be pruned frequently to keep the downward flow,,,,and keep in mind that the colorful bracts of a Boug are at the terminal ends so you will need to be prudent when pruning so as not to lose all your color.....one other thing, there are dwarf bougs also and they don't get much bigger then 2 feet, unlike the standard that can get upwards of 10 feet,,if you have a dwarf, it will be much easier to contain, then the standard, which may show stress once it becomes pot bound...hope you bought a dwarf...hope this helps....Nick